STORY OF A MISER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 142, 2 November 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

STORY OF A MISER

A remarkable story of a miser and his hoard comes from Budapest. The man, who has just died, was a butcher, who kept a small shop, in which he had always lived. He was well known for his niggardly disposition, and was so close-fisted that he even denied himself proper food. His usual fare was bread and cheese. He rarely touched meat, not because he did not like it, but simply because he regarded its use as something approaching extravagance. During his lifetime he never gave his relatives anything, although he was really a millionaire. When he was dying the other week he summoned them all to his bedside. They naturally thought that something in the way of a distribution of his wealth was going to take place, but they were soon undeceived on this point. Addressins those around him, the dying butcher told them that all he hoped was that an earthquake would destroy his property, as they would then be prevented from squandering the fortune that had taken him a lifetime of hard work and self-denial to accumulate. After the man's death a search of the bedroom resulted in the discovery of money to the amount of £20,000.